Mallorca's Four Best 5-Star Golf Hotels — We Compared Them

Mallorca has more five-star golf hotels than almost anywhere in Europe, and picking between them is genuinely difficult. I've stayed at all four of the big ones over the past two years, and I get asked "which one should I book?" at least twice a week.

So here's an honest comparison. No marketing fluff — just what each hotel actually delivers, what it costs through Golf Planet Holidays, and who it's best suited for.

The Quick Comparison

All prices are per person, twin share, including 5 rounds of golf with shared buggy, B&B basis. Flights not included.

Castillo Hotel Son Vida — £2,275pp

This is the flagship. A converted 13th-century castle sitting on a hill overlooking Palma Bay, surrounded by the Arabella Golf complex. If you want the best hotel experience in Mallorcan golf, this is it.

The rooms are big — proper big, not "European big." Marble bathrooms, robes that you'll genuinely consider stealing, and a balcony view over the golf courses that makes your morning coffee taste better. The Es Castell restaurant does a seven-course tasting menu that's one of the best meals I've had on a golf trip.

You're staying within the Arabella Golf complex, which gives you direct access to three courses:

• Son Vida — Par 71, 6,460 yards. The original course. Tight, tree-lined, and demands accuracy. The 3rd hole drops down through pines with Palma cathedral visible in the distance. You'll remember it.
• Son Muntaner — Par 72, 6,500 yards. Wider and more modern than Son Vida. Good variety of holes and the greens are consistently the best-conditioned on the island.
• Son Quint — Par 72. The newest of the three. More open, longer, with some cracking par 3s. Good warm-up course if you haven't played for a while.

The honest take: Son Vida is the best hotel here by a distance, but it's also £280pp more than the Sheraton next door, which plays the same courses. You're paying for the castle, the service, and the prestige. If that matters to you — and for a special trip or a corporate event, it absolutely should — it's worth every penny.

Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel — £1,995pp

The Sheraton sits right in the middle of the Arabella Golf complex. You can literally walk from the lobby to the first tee of Son Muntaner in three minutes. That's not marketing — I timed it.

Rooms are modern, well-maintained, and comfortable without being flashy. The pool area is excellent — big, well-equipped, with proper sun loungers and a pool bar that serves a decent gin and tonic. Breakfast is buffet-style with a good hot section and fresh pastries.

You get the same three courses as Son Vida guests — Son Vida, Son Muntaner, and Son Quint — at the same preferential tee times. The only difference is the hotel itself.

The honest take: This is the sweet spot for most golfers. You get five-star comfort, the best location for golf on the island, and you save nearly £300pp compared to the Castillo. For a group of four mates, that's £1,100 saved — enough for a very good dinner and a lot of Mallorcan wine. I'd say 60% of our Mallorca bookings go here, and the feedback is consistently excellent.

Steigenberger Golf & Spa Resort — £1,850pp

The Steigenberger is in Camp de Mar on the southwest coast, about 30 minutes from Palma airport. It's a different vibe to the Arabella hotels — more resort, less city. The spa is the standout — seriously good, with a proper hydrotherapy circuit, salt room, and treatment menu that your non-golfing partner will thank you for.

Golf-wise, you're playing nearby courses rather than on-site ones. Golf de Andratx is closest (10 minutes), and you'd typically include T-Golf Poniente and Son Antem in the itinerary too. These aren't quite at the level of the Son Vida courses, but they're solid and well-maintained.

The hotel restaurant, Olivia, does excellent Mediterranean food — the lamb shank was outstanding on my last visit. There's also a beach club, which is a nice touch if you want a day off from golf.

The honest take: If your priority is the overall holiday experience rather than playing the absolute best courses, the Steigenberger delivers brilliantly. The spa alone would cost £150+ per person at a UK facility. It's particularly good for couples where one person golfs and the other wants pool, spa, and beach. The trade-off is that you're not walking distance from the courses — you'll need a taxi or transfer each day.

Zafiro Palace Alcudia — £1,750pp

Different part of the island, different feel entirely. The Zafiro is a modern, purpose-built five-star resort in Alcudia on the northeast coast. It's the newest hotel on this list and everything feels fresh — the rooms, the pool complex (there are four pools), the gym, the restaurants.

The golf angle here is Alcanada Golf — a stunning Robert Trent Jones Jr. design with holes running along the coast. The par 3 8th plays directly towards a lighthouse on an island offshore. It's one of the most photographed holes in Spain, and it's a genuinely great golf hole too — not just a pretty backdrop. Pollensa Golf is the other main course nearby, which is shorter and more forgiving.

The honest take: The Zafiro is the best hotel building on this list — everything is shiny and new. But it's in Alcudia, which is 45 minutes from the Son Vida courses. If your priority is playing Son Vida and Son Muntaner, you'd be spending a lot of time in the car. If you're happy playing Alcanada (and you should be, it's excellent) plus one or two others in the north, the Zafiro offers incredible value at the five-star level. It's also the best option if you're travelling with family — the kids' facilities are superb.

So Which One Should You Book?

• Playing the best courses is your priority? → Sheraton Arabella (best value) or Castillo Son Vida (top-end)
• Couples trip, mixed golf and relaxation? → Steigenberger Golf & Spa
• Modern resort, great hotel, happy to explore? → Zafiro Palace Alcudia
• Money is no object and you want the best of everything? → Castillo Son Vida, no question

I was at the Sheraton in October with a group of eight from Surrey. Mixed handicaps, ages 35-65. Every single one said it was the best golf trip they'd done. The combination of three quality courses within walking distance and a proper five-star hotel is hard to match anywhere in Europe.

Not sure which hotel suits your group? Ring us on 01277 284284 and we'll talk through the options. We've sent thousands of golfers to Mallorca — we'll match you with the right hotel in about ten minutes.